About 120 kilometers south of Bangkok is the location of ‘Phetchaburi’, a province selected by UNESCO in 2021 to be one of the World Creative Cities Network as a City of Gastronomy, the second Thai city chosen after Phuket in 2015. Phetchaburi is recognized as a creative food city given that it is abundant with premium local ingredients combined with traditional cooking techniques passed down from generation to generation. Royal court culture, indigenous ethnic groups, Chinese, Mon, and Muslims have all influenced Phetchaburi’s cuisine. Phetchaburi local food has evolved over centuries of embracing and adaption to become special, complex, and, most importantly, tasty!

What is the UNESCO Creative Cities Network?

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a program that has been implemented in conjunction with the Declaration of Natural and Cultural World Heritage Sites since 2004. Every two years, the submission will be opened to cities that have pledged to apply creativity to promote sustainable development in the economy, society, and environment. The Network focuses on seven creative fields: literature, film, music, crafts and folk arts, design, media art, and gastronomy. Currently, 350 cities from all around the world have been selected to join the Network, 58 of which are Cities of Gastronomy.

Did you know?

Two Scandinavian cities have been selected as Cities of Gastronomy: Bergen, which is renowned for its long history of sustainable seafood production and seafood trade, and Östersund, a lakeside city with a rich heritage of sustainable seafood production and seafood trade. It is recognized as a city with a gastronomic culture that is sustainable and rooted in local ingredients.

Get to know Phetchaburi

Phetchaburi, a province in central Thailand, has a lengthy and rich legacy spanning more than 2,000 years. Since it was among the earliest cities accessible by train, it has been a significant city for exporting locally grown food products to other cities ever since. The city boasts a lowland area that produces a variety of agricultural fruits and vegetables, including rice, sugarcane, pineapples, lemons, Karen chilies, and more; a mountain that is the headwater of the Phetchaburi River, a main source of freshwater fisheries; and 89 kilometers of beaches that provide plenty of seafood and sea salt to the city. Because of its wealth of biodiversity and lots of food supplies, Phetchaburi is an ideal place to live, eat, and visit.

City of three flavors: sweet, salty, and sour

Phetchaburi is known as the ‘City of 3 Flavors’ because it is home to three essential cooking ingredients in three distinct flavors. As Thailand’s largest producer of sea salt, let’s start with the salty taste. Continue with the sour flavor of ‘Manao Paen Rampai’, a geographical indication lime with a round shape and thin peel that yields a lot of sour and aromatic juice. Finish with the sweet taste of ‘jaggery’, which has a low sweetness index but a fragrantly sweet flavor that is unique to the area. With these three flavors of three ingredients, combined with the fact that its people prefer to eat seasonal food and use local produce, Phetchaburi has undoubtedly become a province known for its diverse savory and sweet cuisine.

Expert Tips

If you’re interested in understanding the origins of the three flavor ingredients, instead of just satisfying your taste buds, there are several options available. You can visit the salt fields at Ban Laem Salt Barn , climb the palm trees at Lung Thanom Sugar Palm Garden

The top five dishes you should not miss

The Phet people have fashioned a variety of delectable dishes and sweets using three high-quality ingredients. However, these five particular dishes are recommended to those seeking to enjoy the authentic flavors of Phetchaburi.

Khanom Mor Kaeng

Khanom Mor Kaeng Mueang Phet is one of Thailand’s most popular desserts. Palm sugar’s distinctive character is what makes it so famous. Sugar palm trees, cultivated in the Ban Lat District, yield high-quality sugar. When this kind of sugar is combined with eggs, flour, and coconut milk, it is stirred in a pan and poured into the mold before baking. Khanom Mor Kaeng has a distinct sweet and aromatic flavor that sets it apart from other desserts made with granulated sugar. In addition to Khanom Mor Kaeng, Phetchaburi offers numerous notable sweets, including Khao Neow Tad, Khanom Chan, and Khao Tu.

Our recommendation: Khanom Mor Kaeng Mae Pin Khao Neow Tad

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YfT8h5DZz1BR3VvQA

2. Red Noodle Soup Muang Phet

This unique noodle dish is made from a mellow red soup, a combination of local soy sauce, fresh palm sugar, spices, beef broth, and an amazing simmering Karen chili sauce from the Nong Ya Plong District. It has a fiery taste and aroma that are characteristic of the area. If you’re not sure how to order noodles in Thailand, here are three simple steps: First, decide if you prefer large noodles, thin noodles, rice noodles, or egg noodles. Then select the type of meat. The server often serves options like beef or pork, stewed beef, fresh meat, meatballs, and offal in the same bowl. Let the server know if you don’t eat anything, and then choose whether you would like your noodles to come with or without soup. Most noodles are served with boiled bean sprouts and a sprinkle of parsley and celery on top to enhance the savory flavor.

Our recommendation: Red Pork Noodles, Det Duang (Go Yuan) (https://maps.app.goo.gl/5bZUPVKocc1ZKLqy8)

3. Khao Chae Muang Phet

The Phet people have enjoyed this beloved delicacy for a long time. Khao Chae Muang Phet is more renowned than other destinations due to the clean, clear, and purified water in Phetchaburi, according to one member of the royal family. Khao Chae is a dish that is often enjoyed during the summer. This is because the fact that the aroma of cooked rice that floats in the water, as well as the floating candle-smoked flowers that are served chilled, contribute to the dish’s freshness. Fried shrimp paste balls, sweet radish, and sweet fried Yisun fish are Khao Chae Muang Phet’s traditional sweet side dishes.

Our recommendation: Khao Chae Aunt Uen

https://maps.app.goo.gl/CdU4sSGgQM4Jo5tp6

4. Rice Noodle with Fried Thai Fish Cake

Non-locals might find this combo incompatible. However, the secret lies in the popular fried fish cake, which starts with fresh mackerel from the area, finely scraped, and then whisked with eggs, curry paste, chopped long beans, chopped kaffir lime leaves, and spices. Stir the mixture until it turns sticky. Then, flatten the mixture into bite-sized pieces and fry it in oil until golden brown. Arrange the rice noodles on the bottom, place the fried fish cake on top, and serve with Ajad, a Muslim-influenced dipping sauce consisting of sugar, vinegar, sliced cucumber, peanuts, and coriander leaves. As a side dish, the sweet and sour flavors pair wonderfully with the crisp texture of fried basil leaves.

Our recommendation: Khanom Jeen Tod Mun, Tong Chiang, Je Pui

https://maps.app.goo.gl/tdrcMwvA24jousiE7

5. Lod Chong in thick sugar

This is a popular chilled dessert among the Phet people. You can enjoy the popular Lod Chong (green molding dough made from pandan leaves) on its own or with other local sweets such as taro paste, sweetened banana and potato, and coconut jelly. All of your selections will be topped with shaved ice before being poured with a secret ingredient: condensed sugar, which is prepared by simmering palm sugar with water and coffee powder until fragrant, sweet, and rich. On a hot day, eating it is like going to heaven.

     Our recommendation: Kanonporn Lod Chong Namtan Khon

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pmbnFqo9x1So1jsJ8

How to Get There

• You can travel from Bangkok to Phetchaburi in three different ways:

1. By train from Bangkok Apiwat Central Station. It takes approximately 2-2.40 hours (depending on the train type).
2. By van from the new Mochit bus terminal. It takes approximately 2 hours.
3. By bus from Mo Chit Bus Terminal or Sai Tai Mai. It takes approximately 2.45–3 hours.

• From Hua Hin to Phetchaburi: Board the train at Hua Hin Station. It takes about 45–60 minutes (depending on the train type).